Re: UpStar EP Glider by Tower Hobbies

I bought an Upstar Glider about this time last year and I flew it today
as a matter of fact. I have crashed it a few times but one was an
equitment failure and the other times were pilot error.
The center of gravity is important and you have to put the battery as
far back as possible. I didn't like the folding prop that came with it.
It provided lots of power but I broke too many of them too often. AT
$12.00 a pop, I quit buying them and went to an 80/40 electric prop that
I bought from Heads Up RC in Wisconsin in a 5 pack. They don't give as
much power but this prop has been on it for months and I fly it 2-3
times a week.
I get at least 15 minute flights with a fully charged battery. In my
opinion it doesn't thermal very well. Once you get it trimmed out it
flys relatively well. I never fly it at more than 1/2 throttle.
Even with the small prop that I use now it will do loops all day from
level flight. You can even fly inverted but not for long.
This was my first electric glider and it took some getting used to
but it is now "Ole Reliable". I think most of the beginning problems
were with me and not the plane.
The screws that hold the canopy on are a pain so I just use tape. It
works much better.
I've read forums on RC Universe and some of the guys rip the Upstar
pretty bad. Many had problems with the motor running just a few seconds
and then dying. Mine has never had that problem. I think it's caused by
the esc shutting the motor down because it's pulling too many amps. Here
again, I think it's because it's overpropped.
Would I recommend it as a first ep glider? I'm not sure. At full
throttle things happen very fast. That was a part of my problem at the
beginning. I only give it full throttle for 20-30 seconds to get some
altitude and then I go to 1/2 or less.
Hope this helped.

Re: UpStar EP Glider by Tower Hobbies

| I've read forums on RC Universe and some of the guys rip the Upstar
| pretty bad. Many had problems with the motor running just a few
| seconds and then dying. Mine has never had that problem. I think
| it's caused by the esc shutting the motor down because it's pulling
| too many amps. Here again, I think it's because it's overpropped.

There's been a large number of planes like this over the years --
speed 500 to 600 can motor, direct drive, 6 to 8 cell NiCd/NiMH pack.

Yes, they tend to be over-propped. Really, what they generally need
is a lower Kv motor (or a gearbox) so they can use a bigger prop, but
instead they go for direct drive, and a prop that's smaller than would
be ideal for the airframe, but is bigger than ideal for the motor. So
they take an inefficient motor, and make it worse by running it
outside of it's `sweet spot'. And this requires a big heavy battery,
making the plane thermal poorly.

What they really need is a lower Kv motor, perhaps a brushless
outrunner, or a gearbox. Then they can use a smaller battery which
saves weight. Going LiPo could save even more weight.

Of course, once you've spent all this money into upgrading the drive
train, you might as well get a better airframe as well.

To be fair, I've never seen this particular model, so maybe some or
all of my comments on the class don't apply.

On the bright side, people sell these things used all the time. I got
a similar 2m electric glider by Thunder Tiger (I think) complete with
all radio gear, batteries and even a charger for $70 at a swap meet,
and it flew as well as any of them.

But there's a huge difference between it and the more `serious'
electric gliders that I now have.

--
Doug McLaren, dougmc@frenzied.us
Is it weird in here, or is it just me? --Steven Wright

Re: UpStar EP Glider by Tower Hobbies

| Doug, could you recommend a good electric glider? I'd like to get
| something in the middle for starters, at least until I see how I like
| it. Thanks!

First of all, avoid anything with a direct drive speed can (usually
speed 400-600) motor unless it's dirt cheap (as in used, or given to
you for free.) Gliders generally work best with a big, slow prop --
and so that means either a gearbox or a brushless outrunner. Going
direct drive usually means a smaller prop going faster, which is
wasteful.

but notice that most of these are just airframes -- no motor, no
battery, no servos. Price goes up fast!

For beginners, the Easy Glider Electric is a great choice. Being
foam, it tend to not break when crashed. And they give you a speed
400 motor with a gearbox -- so it can turn an appropriately sized
prop. Speed 400 motors also don't use that much power, so the battery
size needed is reasonable. And if you want to upgrade to brushless,
the motors and gearboxes are reasonably priced.

Gearboxes tend to cost more than the cheap can motors they're attached
to -- but they really make a huge difference for a nice slow glider.

The Easy Glider really does thermal pretty well, and while the stock
power system doesn't make it a rocket, it's adequate. Lots of soaring
clubs are doing `one design' contests with everybody flying an Easy
Glider -- the pure glider version rather than the electric version,
but either way, it's quite popular.

--
Doug McLaren, dougmc@frenzied.us
Insanity: trying the same thing over and over, expecting a different
result each time.

Doug, thanks for the info. I have experience with electric planes but I've never had a glider. I thought it would be nice to have something easy that I could relax with. I really don't mind getting the power system separate if it's of some advantage.